The text goes like this:
『The curse of immortality started millenniums ago. It was first not referred to as a "curse" before. Rather, it was first named as 'Blessing of Time.'
The name came from the function of the curse. The curse is a spell that can freeze or stop the time of the person it casted on.
The origins and beginnings of this spell remains uncertain and unknown up till now.
There are many accounts of its origin.
There were rumors from the west that the spell was casted and created by a god who had loved a mortal so much that he does not wish to see his lover's death. And so, the god casted a spell to freeze his lover's time.
Another legend stated that there was a group of magus, all mad and insane, who searched for immortality. After many years of searching, of slaughtering and of offering the corpses and blood of their fallen people, they successfully summoned someone who granted them their wish.
However, for the price of immortality? Those afflicted with it needs to exchange something precious to them in return.
For the sake of stopping their 'time,' they must pay a price.
There is no exact measure for the gravity and extent of the price. Nevertheless, it is stipulated that the price is very steep and something that the afflicted treasures most.
There is no radical changes on the appearance and magic of those afflicted with this curse. There is, however, one marking that set apart those who are afflicted with the curse from a normal person.
An opaque gem on their forehead.
The color of the gem, at first, is white and clear. As time goes on, the game will then slowly turn into the color of the element of the afflicted. The longer the afflicted lives, the darker the color will be.
Although the name itself refers to 'immortality,' the afflicted is still capable of dying. The curse merely keeps the vessel, which is the body, unchanging and immune to time's effect. Hence, the afflicted's age remaining the same ever since they have been curse.
There has not yet been any counter spell created for this curse. However, having encountered and been informed of several cases, the afflicted can transfer their curse onto someone else.
...』
"What are you reading?"
A cold sullen voice sudden speaks up behind Xu Mingyun.
The child flinches in surprise. As she closes the book hurriedly, it made a loud thump in protest to the child's uncaring actions; Xu Mingyun turns around to face her Master while hiding the item behind her.
Xu Mingyun stares at Zhong Cheng with her wide golden eyes.
In the eyes of the subordinates keeping watch, they couldn't help but marvel how their charge exuded an air of innocence while said charge was actually up to mischief.
Zhong Cheng watches the little child's actions with a profound gaze. His pair of dark eyes stare fell on the little child's blank face that still somehow managed to convey his panicked feelings.
Deep and unfathomable emotions flashed through the man's eyes as the child opens his mouth to explain.
...Very similar to her, that thought emerges in his mind.
Under her Master's fierce and pressuring gaze, Xu Mingyun tries to speak. However, no sound came out of her mouth.
The two people stops into a standstill.
A little girl, wearing a young boy's clothing, opens and closes her mouth with a blank expression as she tries to say something to the man standing in front of her.
The man before the child though, merely stayed silent. Deep dark eyes watching the child with a very complex gaze.
Then, suddenly, the man sighs; breaking the impasse. His shoulders, always upright and tense with dignity, suddenly sags. His eyes, usually sharp and cold but still a bit gentle whenever it laid eyes upon the child, turns harsh.
For the first time, Xu Mingyun sees this version of Zhong Cheng that garners the respect, fear and loyalty of those around him.
"Mingyun, next time, it is best if you do not try to look for secret compartments within this room." He finally said after a few moments of silence before he abruptly turns around and left the room.
"Come, it is time for your lessons."
Xu Mingyun bits her lips, her golden eyes staring at that cold and desolate back thoughtfully. Holding back the questions that came into her mind with this discovery, she returns the book to where she found it. Committing its appearance into her memory with a stubborn look that made those who see it sigh at the resemblance to her mother, she turned and left her room.
…The next morning, when Xu Mingyun secretly looked for the compartment again, she found out that the secret compartment disappeared without a trace. And, no matter how much she searched in every nook and cranny of the room, Xu Mingyun could no longer find any trace of a hidden compartment.
﹊﹊﹊
A week pass by ever since that incident in her room. Xu Mingyun had already pushed that memory of her Master's sullen and complicated look in favor for the current problematic situation unfolding before her.
…It seems that her Master will be holding a banquet soon!
What made her say that?
It was due to the bustling and cheerful movements of the servants within her courtyard. The servants went in and out of her courtyard as they brought many things inside. The usual hidden guards that her Master had also come out of their hiding places to ran around in the open to fulfill the orders of Zhong Cheng.
It was quite a surprise for the ten year old Xu Mingyun to see these usual idle, tranquil and silent household to suddenly buzz with activity.
But, what really troubled the little girl is because of-
"Sister Yinyou, don't you think that this color and pattern suits the Young Miss better than that one?"
"Aiyo! It's such a pity that Young Miss' hair is so short! It's a good thing that the Lord actually listened Sister Yinyan even though he doesn't understand why the Young Miss would need to have long hair."
"Oh! Do you think that Young Miss wearing the Lord's colors is appropriate? As his disciple, she's representing him after all."
Throughout all the flurry of movements and suggestions from her servants, Xu Mingyun remained unperturbed and silent as she took small sips from the cup of tea handed to her by Yinyan.
Her presence suddenly minimized and became unnoticeable when these women, that suddenly turned insane at the sight of the garments and accessories they took out from the storeroom of the courtyard, started debating on how to make her presentable for the banquet.
Two shíchéns have already passed since the start of this… hellish event.
… (¯▽¯٥)
They are really quite exhausting to watch ah, Xu Mingyun thought to herself as her golden eyes took in the sight of these usual kind, gentle, serene and weak women turning into such terrifying, fierce, strong and sharp-tongued women before she looks down at her hands in thought.
It has been two months since she was taken in by Zhong Cheng.
These past two months, her Master didn't let her stay idle at all. Those two busy months were spent studying and learning how to read and write and learn etiquette for men. There are also those random and whimsical moments of studying magic and martial arts under the guidance of her Master. After her lessons with her Master, instead of having to rest, Xu Mingyun was instead forced to undergo the strict lessons of proper etiquette of women from Yinying.
If those acquaintances of hers and the late Grandfather Lui saw her, they would probably be unable to recognize Xu Mingyun. Not only did her temperament and bearing changed, which can be attributed to the strict teachings of Zhong Cheng and Yinying, but her appearance also changed.
After two months of drinking those foul tasting potions, her skin color is no longer dark but rather white as snow. Her white skin coupled with her golden eyes and delicate features causes the servants' eyes to light up whenever they see her.
As expected, their family's little master is the most handsome of all!
Two hands roughly grab her shoulders suddenly, pulling Xu Mingyun's attention to the current situation in front of her. Two fair and beautiful faces of the two maidens showed up in her vision.
Too close ah! The little girl anxiously thought, feeling a chill running down her spine as an ominous feeling came to her at the sight of the two maiden's bright smile.
"Young Miss, what do you think?"
They simultaneously ask her, a bright smile on their lips while their eyes held a strange glint.
Xu Mingyun nervously looks around, her golden eyes flickered to the direction of the servants standing at the side for help as her two hands unconsciously fiddles with the cuffs of her sleeves.
Being graced by the sight of their usually composed and emotionless Young Miss stare at them with golden wide eyes begging for their intervention, in addition to her lovely and adorable appearance; the steel hearts of these battle hardened servants melt and starts racing. However, the fierce and terrifying aura surrounding their two maidens cause them to shift their eyes away from the little girl; they bow their heads low and continue on with their work.
Little Miss, we really do wish to help ah, but our two captains are too fierce!
Xu Mingyun took a deep breath, gathering her bearings together before she took action.
"I like this one." She suddenly said as she points to the silky black satin that caught her eyes the moment it was presented before her. Xu Mingyun watches the two turn to look at the fabric with searching gazes before she continues to speak.
"The mañjusaka embroidery is breathtakingly beautiful and seems so real. Also, it has two of the three colors of Master," The young girl pauses upon catching sight of the sudden shift of expressions of these women and the sudden sullen and sad atmosphere of the room.
She stops speaking. Thoughtfully looking at them, her eyes flashed with a myriad of emotions but Xu Mingyung acted as though she didn't notice their dispirited mood.
"Yinyan," Tugging at the sleeves of one of the two maidens beside her, Xu Mingyun asks the woman curiously.
"Is there something wrong with my choice?"
Yinyan, hearing her Young Miss' question, looks down to look at her little miss. The sadness within her eyes quickly vanish as she smiles at Xu Mingyun.
With tacit understanding, Yinyan and Yinyou bows their heads, hiding the myriad of emotions that they are currently feeling from the little girl before them.
"There's nothing wrong, Young Miss!" They answer firmly to the ten year old. Still maintaining their bowing posture, the two continue to speak.
"Please allow these servants to take their leave. These servants shall go and prepare Young Miss' dress."
Xu Mingyun pensively stares at the two woman before her. Her expression devoid of any emotion. She really wants to ask these two just what made them so sorrowful, however, remembering that pained and mournful look on their eyes…
She opens her mouth and faintly answers. "Okay."
The two servants bowed once again before they left, taking the sample along with them. The rest also moved to take away the remaining fabric after receiving a signal from Yinyan.
As the servants took away the sample fabrics and a new set of servants came in carrying boxes full of jewelry, Xu Mingyun happened to overhear a comment from the maidens.
"Aiyo! Just the sight of the red spider lilies earlier brought some memories into mind. Although it's clearly red, for a moment I thought it was white earlier. Both mother and daughter really have an affinity to lilies ah."
"Shhh!" An older servant hastily shushes the young girl beside her upon catching sight of their Young Miss' interested eyes staring at their direction.
"Remember what we promised to the Lord!"
The young girl flinches, as the memory of that night of sadness and grief came into mind. Most of all, that oath they had sworn to the young Lord at that time; her eyes immediately flickers to the direction of the Young Miss. Seeing Xu Mingyun looking at them, her expression devoid of any emotions but her body language screaming her interest with their conversation, the servant lets out a high pitched laughter.
"Forget what I said ah! Come, let's continue with our work."
Watching the backs of the two servants hastily leave her room, as though the devil was chasing after them, Xu Mingyun frowns as she furrows her brows in thought. Mind whirring with many more questions than before.
In the end, just who is Zhong Cheng? What is his relation to her and her mother?
…Is he really her father?
If he was… Xu Mingyun stares at her hands contemplatively.
Why did he lie to her?
﹊﹊﹊
『Little Black Box』
How I wish that you were my father... How I wished that you were him instead of that person. At the same time, Master... I am grateful that you're not him.
For it means that these feelings I felt for you would not be frowned upon.
-Xu Mingyun